Principal's Letter
Hello Grant Families,
I would like to share some information about the upcoming bond and levy measures that voters are considering this election cycle. Some topics that are important to voters, are the cost of the measures and the new downtown stadium. Spokane Public Schools (SPS) has made a commitment to maintaining a predictable tax bill. With recent rises in property values, SPS has lowered the amount for the bond and levy from previous cycles so that residents will not see a rise in their tax bill in most cases.
Next, there have been some questions raised about the building of the new ONE Spokane Stadium in downtown Spokane rather than at the Albi site in northwest Spokane that an advisory vote in 2018 had recommended. Since that advisory vote, the school board was approached by the Downtown Spokane Partnership with an offer to take over operations and maintenance of the stadium if it were built in downtown Spokane. This offer would save the school district over $25 million during the stadium’s projected 50-year life span. With this new information, the school board elected to save money and build the stadium downtown. For more information on the stadium itself and the decision on where to build it click here.
Please be sure to vote by February 13th!
Love,
Mrs. Searcy
Principal, Grant Elementary
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Bond & Levy Information
Spokane Public Schools is running a bond and levy this winter. The bond includes replacements for Madison and Adams elementary schools, modernizations for North Central High School and Garry Middle School, upgrades to Chase Middle School, design work for Balboa and Indian Trail elementary schools, upgrades to some of our option programs, safety and technology improvements and updates to buildings and facilities district-wide. The levy supports programs and positions not fully funded by the state, including teachers for lower class size, AP classes and highly capable programs, special education services, nursing services, library services, schools support staff, all extracurricular activities including sports, clubs, and the arts, and more. Learn more at spokaneschools.org/bondlevy2024 and remember to vote by February 13.
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Don't Forget: Wear your PE Shoes!
We are seeing an increase in the number of students who are forgetting to bring their PE shoes on PE days. Shoes with laces make for a fun time in PE! Please talk with your student about responsibility and putting those PE shoes on or putting them in their backpack before coming to school. Thank you for your support!
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Congratulations!
Congratulations to January's Citizens of the Month! These students were chosen for excelling at perseverance, the Purposefull People character trait for the month.
Kindergarten: Yelyzaveta, Harper, Evie
1st Grade: D'Angelo, Khamphangh, Amberly, Ian, Oleg, Zachary, Riley
2nd Grade: Daxton, Ryan, Max
3rd Grade: Emerald, Abdul Aziz, Mara, Grace
4th Grade: Evie H., Nicole, Braxxton, Matthew, Evelyn C., Avigeia
5th Grade: Tracey, Wyatt, William, Davyd L., Sofia B.
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No School
There will be no school on Monday, February 19, in honor of the Presidents Day holiday. There will also be no school on Tuesday, February 20, for Professional Learning Improvement Day. Students, enjoy your 4 day weekend!
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Class Pictures
Class Pictures are coming on Thursday, February 22. Please make sure to have your student to school on time because pictures will begin at 8:30. Order forms will be sent home soon, extra order forms are available in the office.
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Reading Challenge
We currently have 2 Reading Challenges for your student to participate in!
Have you read today for Grant's February Reading Challenge? Earn a FREE Pizza Hut Book It coupon! Remember...There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.
Grant has also participating in Silverwood Theme Park's Read 2 Ride challenge! If students read 600 minutes by Friday, March 22, they will earn a FREE ticket to Silverwood Theme Park to use this summer. Parents, please make sure to sign the reading log and mark whether you want your ticket emailed or printed.
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Hello Grant families,
The week of February 5-9th was National School Counseling Week. Mr. Pride and I want to thank all of our Grant families for working with us to support your amazing students! It is such an honor to partner with you!
Many people don’t know exactly what school counselors do. See below to learn a few ways that school counselors work to support students and families at Grant. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can do anything to support your student or family.
We are continuing to learn about our Purposeful People Character Trait for the month of February, Honesty. We look forward to celebrating students who are selected for the Citizen of the Month awards at our next assembly.
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Proud to be a Husky!
Love,
Ms. Campbell & Mr. Pride
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Family Assistance Survey
If you haven’t already and would like to sign up for supports throughout the year, please take a moment to fill out the Family Assistance Survey to sign up for programs such as mentoring, food or clothing supports, mental health and parenting resources, and/or volunteer opportunities. 😊 There are several ways to sign up: Scan the QR code, follow this link, or come to the office to get a hard copy.
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Afterschool Activities
Grant offers many afterschool activities for students to be involved in. Most activities run from 3:00-4:15. There is an activity bus for students who are eligible to ride the bus and have registered to ride.
Mondays: Drummers & Dancers
Tuesdays: Choir
Wednesdays: EWU Reading Club (starting January 31), Ceramics (starting February 21)
Thursdays: Indigenous Afterschool Club (for American Indian or Alaska Native students, 3rd Thursday of the month), Young Kids Club
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Preparing for Middle School | |
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Our next T.E.A.M. Grant meeting is Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 pm. There is free childcare available and we would love you have you join us!
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Attendance Line
Whenever your student will be absent from school, we ask that you call our Attendance Line to report the absence. Remember to include your name, your student's name, and the reason for the absence. You can save the number in your phone for quick and easy access! The number is 509-354-2818 and is available 24 hours a day.
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When to Keep A Child Home From School
It is important for the health of all students, staff and families that your child not attend school when they are sick. The following guidelines are appropriate reasons to keep your child home from school:
- A fever of 100 degrees F or higher in the last 24 hours. Your child should be fever free (without the use of fever reducing medicines) for 24 hours before returning to school.
- A consistently goopy, runny nose.
- Drainage from the eye and/or redness of the eyelid or skin around the eye.
- A bad cough-one that you wouldn't want your well child to be around.
- A sore throat, especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck.
- Shortness of breath or other problems with normal breathing.
- A child that seems ill-unusually tired, pale, or difficult to awaken, headache or body aches; seems confused or irritable, and/or lacks normal appetite.
- A rash that is associated with fever or severe itching.
- Vomiting with/without diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Your child should be free of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. NOTE: A child who has one episode of bloody diarrhea or two episodes of diarrhea at school must be sent home and cannot return until the diarrhea has resolved. Some diarrhea may be associated with bacteria or virus. If your child has severe diarrhea you should contact your health care provider.
- Your child needs to remain at home 24 hours after starting an antibiotic.
- Any contagious disease such as chicken pox, influenza, whooping cough or gastroenteritis.
- As directed by your health care provider.
If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Heidi Hash at 509-354-2785.
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Bussing Reminders
Zum is the new transportation company for Spokane Public Schools. Zum is committed to safe, reliable student transportation.
Students who qualify to ride the bus must be registered. Once registered, students will receive a bus pass to scan when they get on and off the bus. If a student loses their bus pass, parents can call the school office to order a new one. Register to ride the bus here. You must know your student's ID number and birthdate to register.
Parents are encouraged to download the Zum app on their phones which provides the following benefits:
- view your student's upcoming rides
- track your student's rides in real time and receive alerts when the bus is arriving
- get notifications when your student gets on and off the bus
- cancel your student's same-day and upcoming rides
- view driver and vehicle information for your ride
- chat with a live support agent
- rate your ride and provide Zum feedback
For more information, please visit ridezum.com/getstarted.
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Free Preschool Available at Grant
We have a few openings left in our preschool program for both morning and afternoon sessions. If you have a 3 or 4 year old and are interested in learning more, please contact our Family Support Specialist at 509-354-2774 or email her at CelinaH@spokaneschools.org.
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So much learning is happening in our classroom! First graders continue to work on their writing and have done an amazing job editing their work (and the work of others). We have been keeping a close eye on punctuation, proper spelling, and capitalization.
In math, we recently wrapped up another unit of study and did an amazing job working with partners during our addition and subtractions math games.
As readers, we are practicing on Lexia each day but the MOST fun is when we read out loud together. Some students even volunteered to read to the whole class which was so exciting to watch!
I am so incredibly proud of your little ones. Thank you for sharing them with me each day!
Ms. Lipsker
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Gunnar and Mr. Wick's class prove that science IS magic when they poke pencils through bags filled with water without spilling a drop. | |
Mrs. Blalack's class model how sound vibrates through air. | |
Mrs. Smith's class love an engineering challenge! | |
Amberly and her EPIC Mentor, Felisa, enjoy their time together once a week! If you know someone who would make a great mentor, please sign up! | | | | |
